Commentary
A recent report by the US State Department has dramatically amplified the Trump administration’s pressure campaign on Cuba, says this writer.
People riding in electric vehicles carry Cuban flags as they pass by the U.S. Embassy during an anti-imperialist march amid a months-long energy crisis since U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cut off its fuel supply, Havana, Cuba April 2, 2026. REUTERS/Norlys Perez
30 Jul 2026 05:58AM
QUEENSLAND: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is again taking aim at Cuba. This time, however, the Trump administration is framing Havana as a decades-long sponsor of terrorism and espionage that has helped cultivate the “radical left” in the United States.As part of this, the administration is making pains to link Cuba with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which is growing politically in the US, thanks to Zohran Mamdani’s win as New York City mayor and other victories.And it comes against the backdrop of fear-mongering by US President Donald Trump about the prospect of communism threatening the US again. He has specifically linked Democrats to communism, as well.So, why is the Trump administration making this spurious argument, and why now?
